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https://nerdist.com/article/dead-space-remake-secret-ending-explained-connection-to-sequel-game/
Nearly 15 years ago, we got the first iteration of the revolutionary Dead Space. And now, in 2023, fans of the franchise finally got a proper remake of the game. The Dead Space remake promised all the gory fun of the original but with updated graphics, a more involved narrative, and an increase in strategy. In addition to all of that, the Dead Space remake features a secret ending. But this alternate ending is exciting for more reasons than just the joy of additional footage. It helps brings Dead Space and Dead Space 2 together… And possibly hints there is more remaking on the horizon.
Let’s take a look at the Dead Space secret ending itself.
The components of this ending are similar to the original Dead Space ending. There’s Isaac, his lost love, and a ship. In the original ending, Isaac Clarke contends with the idea that the woman he had come searching for, Dr. Nicole Brennan, could never have been saved by him. Nicole was, in fact, dead the whole time Isaac was on the USG Ishimura. Instead, The Markers, alien obelisks that seek to infect living things and turn them into Necromorphs, zombie-like corpse beings, were responsible for the hallucinations of Nicole that Isaac experiences throughout the game.
Isaac seems to come to terms with Nicole’s death, understanding it be reality, but one final hallucination takes him, and a Necromorph version of Nicole attacks him. The ending is undoubtedly thrilling, but it doesn’t do very much to set up the future of the Dead Space world.
That’s where the alternate ending comes in. In it, we see Isaac sink to an even greater hallucinatory state. In a place of seeming delirious joy, he enters his ship, which is covered in Marker symbols. Even worse, these symbols seem like they were painted in blood. He tells a mutated version of Nicole that he has to “build a little something.” The two of them embrace to culminate their twisted exchange that hints at no good to come, and the secret ending of Dead Space concludes.
And, in fact, no good is to come. Those who play Dead Space 2 will know that Isaac himself brings a new Necromorph infestation to the Sprawl. And the “little something” he builds is actually a new Marker. The secret ending of the Dead Space remake reveals that the Markers had infected Isaac deeply throughout the game, eventually turning him into its infection-spreading puppet. It’s a clever bridge between the two parts of the franchise. Not to mention, to unlock the secret ending, those playing the Dead Space remake must collect 12 Marker fragments from various locations. Fragments that Isaac will perhaps use to put together a new Marker in the future?
Of course, a secret ending signposting to Dead Space 2 could have an even deeper meaning. It certainly feels like it hints that more remake-fun is on the way in the Dead Space world. We guess we’ll have to stay tuned to find out.
This post has affiliate links, which means we may earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, we just have to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!
The post The DEAD SPACE Remake Secret Ending Fills in Some Franchise Blanks appeared first on Nerdist.
Nearly 15 years ago, we got the first iteration of the revolutionary Dead Space. And now, in 2023, fans of the franchise finally got a proper remake of the game. The Dead Space remake promised all the gory fun of the original but with updated graphics, a more involved narrative, and an increase in strategy. In addition to all of that, the Dead Space remake features a secret ending. But this alternate ending is exciting for more reasons than just the joy of additional footage. It helps brings Dead Space and Dead Space 2 together… And possibly hints there is more remaking on the horizon.
Let’s take a look at the Dead Space secret ending itself.
The components of this ending are similar to the original Dead Space ending. There’s Isaac, his lost love, and a ship. In the original ending, Isaac Clarke contends with the idea that the woman he had come searching for, Dr. Nicole Brennan, could never have been saved by him. Nicole was, in fact, dead the whole time Isaac was on the USG Ishimura. Instead, The Markers, alien obelisks that seek to infect living things and turn them into Necromorphs, zombie-like corpse beings, were responsible for the hallucinations of Nicole that Isaac experiences throughout the game.
Isaac seems to come to terms with Nicole’s death, understanding it be reality, but one final hallucination takes him, and a Necromorph version of Nicole attacks him. The ending is undoubtedly thrilling, but it doesn’t do very much to set up the future of the Dead Space world.
That’s where the alternate ending comes in. In it, we see Isaac sink to an even greater hallucinatory state. In a place of seeming delirious joy, he enters his ship, which is covered in Marker symbols. Even worse, these symbols seem like they were painted in blood. He tells a mutated version of Nicole that he has to “build a little something.” The two of them embrace to culminate their twisted exchange that hints at no good to come, and the secret ending of Dead Space concludes.
And, in fact, no good is to come. Those who play Dead Space 2 will know that Isaac himself brings a new Necromorph infestation to the Sprawl. And the “little something” he builds is actually a new Marker. The secret ending of the Dead Space remake reveals that the Markers had infected Isaac deeply throughout the game, eventually turning him into its infection-spreading puppet. It’s a clever bridge between the two parts of the franchise. Not to mention, to unlock the secret ending, those playing the Dead Space remake must collect 12 Marker fragments from various locations. Fragments that Isaac will perhaps use to put together a new Marker in the future?
Of course, a secret ending signposting to Dead Space 2 could have an even deeper meaning. It certainly feels like it hints that more remake-fun is on the way in the Dead Space world. We guess we’ll have to stay tuned to find out.
This post has affiliate links, which means we may earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, we just have to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!
The post The DEAD SPACE Remake Secret Ending Fills in Some Franchise Blanks appeared first on Nerdist.
The Journey to Bread and Butter
When Netflix advertised Pressure Cooker to me, I thought they were just goading my reality cooking competition interests out. “Sure, I’ll give in to a little hot sauce on my Friday afternoon,” I ignorantly thought to myself. I assumed this will be a culinary competition like usual. I occasionally disagree with the judges, I hear a bit of drama from competitors, I get some inspiration for my own dishes, and call it a day. Pressure Cooker showed me the world behind the reality cooking competition I thought always existed but was edited out for family friendly viewers.
I’ve been telling every Black person I know to watch Pressure Cooker whether they are into reality competition cooking shows or not. The kitchen, where taste buds and technique reign supreme, falls into anti-Blackness and complicity as if by magic. Pressure Cooker is a brilliant format for a reality cooking show because it showcases the industry’s problem by taking out the middle man. It lets the environment create itself. It shapes the barricades and within minutes marginalization peaks its head. What could be resolved in more diverse casting, becomes a clear lesson of what we experience regularly.
Pressure Rising
I started Pressure Cooker with my partner one Saturday evening over dinner, expecting the regular. We root for everybody Black, and I judge people’s culinary decisions under pressure. The first competition required the contestants to make a dish for everyone within 90 minutes. Since every competitor is also a judge, everything from what type of dish you make, to the comments you make on other people’s dishes is part of the game. The balance between a social and craft is essential. Competitors rate the dish from most to least liked. The producers tally the results to choose the bottom scorers. From there your peers vote on who gets to stay.
I immediately froze. Everything I know about moving through corporate and the entertainment industry came flooding to me. You mean to tell me y’all just made a game about navigating whiteness but made it a cooking competition too? We already have navigating whiteness while stranded on an island: it’s called Survivor. Four people of color in a predominantly white peer group where your peers decide whether you are worthy of getting $100,000? I stared at the screen and told my partner “there will be a split in the house.”
No matter how much I wanted it to be, this will not be based in skill alone. I wanted to believe that every person of color would be safe as long as they performed their best. I knew I would be wrong, I prayed anyway.
The Heating Element
I immediately took a liking to Chef Renee Blackman. Blackman is an Afro-Caribbean chef who became a top contender in Pressure Cooker the moment she won the first competition of the season. Renee Blackman, Lana Lagomarsini, and Ed Porter were the top three and safe from elimination. I can live with that, I thought.
But the first red flag started waving during the first team challenge. The house was split in two. The goal was to create a cohesive menu highlighting different flavor profiles (sweet, salty, umami, sour, and bitter). Since Renee and Lana were the top two in the last challenge, they became the team leaders. While the teams were cooking, I noticed Sergei disrespecting Renee’s leadership. He was straddling the fine line between peer critique and advising. From trying to tell Renee about when she adds her ingredients to advising Christan’s plating a team effort transformed into taking charge. When there is a designated team leader, trying to chalk up “taking the lead” because of their personality doesn’t help the goal.
This often happens to people of color, particularly Black women in various industries. Black women, are not often placed in positions of power, and when they are, it’s subliminally stripped away from white people who’ve been privileged enough to see themselves as leaders. They would become bossy or give “passive aggressive” suggestions that go against the leader’s goal.
Roughly 16% of all head chefs are Black. The subtlety of mistrust, the belief that you know better, and acting upon that upholds marginalization in the same way institutions have for generations.
The Sauce is Simmering
Renee (Captain of the Yellow Team) nominated Christan and Brian for elimination. Christan, made a bitter green salad, where the critique from the judge was that it didn’t have enough bitter notes. Brian made a panna cotta. Though his flavors were applauded by Liv, it faulted in technicality because it did not set. Throughout the challenge Brian reassured that everything was handled. This was not the first time Brian’s dish faulted on technicality. Brian is a big risk taker, but those risks on both occasions fell through.
The second red flag hit immediately. Who do you allow to stay? The argument for bigger risk harder fall, or low risk, faulty follow through. I want to believe that consistency is rewarded. What broke my heart is that I knew Christan was leaving before the plotting began. Who becomes easier to discard? I tried to chalk it up to a game move. You take out the potentially bigger target in hopes of bettering your odds. But as the game went on, it became interesting to see who was always in danger.
Who was targeted in the confessional? By the time Jeana made her rounds with Christan, I already knew who would be next. Christan, Ed, Lana. People of color are given less chances for redemption when they fail but are not highly regarded when they succeed. Everyone was telling Christan she was okay, but Jeana was rallying in secret to get her eliminated. Why was this able to happen more than once?
When Lana was on a team with Jeana, Caroline, and Sergei who did they think was worth saving?
Release the Pressure
Lack of consistency should have had Jeana on the block multiple times. Bottom three in the first challenge, negative remarks on the second. Lana placed on the top consistently but when the moment came where she can be discarded, it happened. People of color experience this often in the industry where a moment of vulnerability gets them eliminated. Sometimes the most interesting thing about complicity is that it’s easier to mask. Sometimes complicity looks like watching something happen and the justifications are magically lined up. Manipulation in a way that almost looks reasonable. It looks like betrayal with perfect excuse.
I wanted to believe that every person of color in Pressure Cooker would be safe as long as they were consistent. But how can you show off consistency when your colleagues already set it out that they need to get rid of you. It’s a similar feeling across industries, where you’re remarkable but feel expendable. Understanding who is able to succeed in spite of. In Pressure Cooker, your peers decide who gets an upper hand. Your peers decide who fail. When you lack representation among your peers, it’s easier to be seen as forgotten, or a tool for someone else’s rise.
The Power of Community
When it was time for Ed and Brian’s face-off for elimination, I believe the anonymity of the dishes played a part in Ed’s survival. Both dishes, looked remarkable. Ed was going through some issues in his preparation and forgot something for his dish entirely. Confessional proved to be skewed to keep Brian for manipulative reasons. Jeana assumed that the more rustic dish was Ed’s and turned still when Brian was the one eliminated.
Everything can be led up to devious planning. At the same time, these are the same movements people have utilized in corporate settings and everyday occurrences. A gaslight, wondering if you’re the crazy one. Thinking you’re safe by teaming up with them, sharing a common goal. But a common goal is not the requirement. A common goal becomes the excuse when people of color cannot live up to a standard. It is why we’re not often offered the ability to be in power. It eliminates the need.
The house split had layers of deceit. Obvious game play, but another thing that reigned clear throughout the series. Pressure Cooker, though a brilliant format for a reality cooking show only revealed what people of color have to deal with on a daily basis. Fighting to be respected in an industry whose peers appreciate the flavors of the offering, but not the chefs themselves. If there is anything that reality competition shows reveal, is that some things are not overt. It’s hidden, yet persevering in all forms. It divides and creates discomfort in a way that might make you feel gas-lit for pointing it out, but it makes itself known in all corners.
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The post ‘Pressure Cooker:’ A Look at Marginalization in the Industry appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Fun-loving, bombastic, and musically gifted, the character of Dee Jay is one of the Street Fighter series’ hidden gems that’s far too often outshined by the likes of Ken, Ryu, and Chun-Li. His announced appearance and redesign in Street Fighter 6 has excited the die-hard fans of the gaming franchise who are happy to see the return of the series’ most happy-go-lucky character that lives his best life, only focused on two things he loves the most: music and fighting.
Though not instantly recognizable as one of the game’s more prominent characters, Dee Jay, the Jamaican kickboxer introduced in 1993’s Super Street Fighter II, is a character that always stood out among the roster of fighters. In fact, he was conceived for the game by an American designer James Goddard, and he was the first character in the Street Fighter series to be designed by an American at all. The character concept, however, significantly differs from the newest iteration of the character.
The concept for the character came from Goddard’s interpretation of Billy Blanks’ performance in the King of the Kickboxers. But instead of mirroring Billy’s antagonistic role from the film, Goddard wanted a really kick-ass Black character with a more cheerful disposition. He designed the character and sent the sketch to the Japanese team working on the game, along with a copy of a VHS tape of the King of the Kickboxers. Motion-capture performance wasn’t a thing when the game was developed, and dev and animators had to watch hundreds of hours of footage to actually animate character movement.
Regardless, Dee Jay was designed as a positive, fun character with additional elements that would support his thin backstory. He’s a fun-loving guy who’s trying to jump-start his musical career while fighting. And the fans loved the character in the initial game, not just as a fighter, but due to his great personality too. He’s a laid-back and cool character who exudes confidence and charisma, always with a smile on his face while sporting a positive attitude. His unique Jamaican accent and catchphrases, such as “Feelin’ so good!” and “Let’s make it nice!” adds to his charm and makes him stand out among the other characters in the series.
However, the critics didn’t like Dee Jay’s initial design, which resulted in the character getting somewhat of a mixed reception. Dr. Kishonna Grey suggested that Dee Jay is depicted as the “monstrous other” by his character design, as opposed to more heroic features associated with the Japanese and American characters. Admittedly, a chiseled physique, an ear-to-ear grin, and a braided mohawk given to him by Capcom did very little to improve the critics’ initial impression of the character, with some criticizing the original character design as the most offensive stereotype.
And yet, Dee Jay’s unique fighting style, cool attitude, and iconic moves made him a fan-favorite character among Street Fighter players. He’s a well-rounded character that can be played in a variety of ways, as he combines traditional kickboxing techniques with his own unique Jamaican flair. His projectiles and normal attacks control the space effectively; he’s fast and high-pressured, which makes him very effective as a rush-down character, and his high health and anti-air attack options make him a great defensive character — perfect for both beginners and advanced players.
While Street Fighter 6 hasn’t been released yet; the game is expected to drop on June 2, 2023, and fans are excited about a whole new range of features being implemented into the game. Capcom, on the other hand, decided to give Dee Jay a much-needed makeover since the character hasn’t changed much from his outdated 1993 design.
The new design is now Dee Jay’s best standout feature since it brings a lot of flavor to the game. His unique Jamaican style is heavily influenced by reggae and dancehall culture, with his brightly colored clothing and Rastafarian-inspired hairstyle. This gives him a unique look that sets him apart from the other characters in the series. His design is not only visually striking but also reflects his personality and fighting style perfectly. The only aspect of the character in which Capcom failed yet again is character development.
Dee Jay received very little in terms of character development. He’s presented as a smooth talker and a ladies’ man who enters the Street Fighter tournament to prove he’s the best fighter in the world and to promote his music in his debut game. But that’s about it. Though his fighting capabilities have been expanded with each subsequent release, the course of his musical career remains vague. Admittedly, it’s really not a central aspect of a character in a fighting game, but it would be nice for his backstory to receive an expansion, even if it’s a minor one.
In the end, Dee Jay is a fantastic character to play in the Street Fighter series, and the newest iteration of the character seems even more entertaining. Anyone looking to pick up the upcoming Street Fighter 6 should know that Capcom really did its homework this time; it’s possible that the company has considered hiring a sensitivity coach to address rampant claims of misrepresentation — and outright racism — which ensured that the redesigned Dee Jay expresses as more of a “real world” actual representation of an Afro-Jamaican person.
Hopefully, they did the same with Kimberly, an 80s-loving genius newcomer who wants to be a ninja.